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{{Short description|Self-publishing platform}}

{{Infobox publisher
{{Infobox publisher
| image = [[File:Smashwords logo.png|200px]]
| image = Smashwords logo.png
| parent =
| parent =
| status =
| status =
| founded = 2008
| founded = 2008
| founder = [[Mark Coker]]
| founder = Mark Coker
| successor =
| successor =
| country = [[United States]]
| country = [[United States]]
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| numemployees =
| numemployees =
| nasdaq =
| nasdaq =
|image size=222px}}
| url = {{URL|http://www.smashwords.com}}
}}


'''Smashwords''' (Smashwords, Inc.), based in [[Los Gatos, California]], is an [[e-book]] distribution platform founded by Mark Coker for independent authors and publishers. The company began public operation in 2008.<ref name = "sfgate">{{Cite news | title = Smashwords gets e-books to market |url = http://articles.sfgate.com/2011-05-09/business/30223603_1_e-books-mike-shatzkin-kindle |work=San Francisco Chronicle|first=Ilana |last=DeBare |date=2011-05-12 |accessdate = 2011-12-29}}</ref>
'''Smashwords, Inc.''', based in [[Los Gatos, California]], is a platform for [[self-publishing]] [[e-book]]s. The company, founded by Mark Coker, began public operation in 2008<ref name = "sfgate">{{Cite news | title = Smashwords gets e-books to market |url = http://articles.sfgate.com/2011-05-09/business/30223603_1_e-books-mike-shatzkin-kindle |work=San Francisco Chronicle|first=Ilana |last=DeBare |date=2011-05-12 |access-date = 2011-12-29}}</ref> and was acquired by Draft2Digital, LLC in <ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Porter |date=2022-02-09 |title=A Merger in Self-Publishing: Draft2Digital's Acquisition of Smashwords |url=https://publishingperspectives.com/2022/02/a-merger-in-self-publishing-draft2digitals-acquisition-of-smashwords/ |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=Publishing Perspectives |language=en-US}}</ref>2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-08 |title=Draft2Digital to Acquire Smashwords, Creating Self-Publishing Juggernaut |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/draft2digital-acquire-smashwords-creating-self-153000396.html |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}}</ref>


[[Authors]] and independent [[publishers]] upload their manuscripts as electronic files to the Smashwords service, which converts them into multiple e-book formats for reading on various devices. Once published, the books are made available for sale online at a price set by the author or indie publisher. Smashwords does not use [[Digital Rights Management|DRM]].
[[Authors]] and independent [[publishers]] upload their manuscripts as electronic files to the service, which converts them into multiple e-book formats for various devices. Once published, the books are made available for sale online at a price set by the author or independent publisher.


==History==
==History==
Coker began work on Smashwords in 2005 and officially launched the website in May 2008. Within the first seven months of launching, the website published 140 books.<ref name="Forbes">[http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2012/0625/entrepreneurs-mark-coker-smashwords-book-value.html "Book Value"] ''Forbes''</ref> Due to initially low profits, Coker switched to a distribution model that offered retailers a "30% commission in exchange for digital shelf space".<ref name="Forbes" /> Smashwords achieved a profit in 2010 and has partnered with [[Apple Inc.|Apple]], [[Barnes & Noble]], [[Kobo Inc.|Kobo]], and [[Sony]].<ref name="Forbes" /> Smashwords also uploaded books into KDP, [[Amazon.com|Amazon]].com's e-book publishing website, but until February 2014 no longer offered the service, due to a falling out with [[Amazon.com|Amazon]].{{huh}} As of February 2014, limited distribution to Amazon via Smashwords resumed.{{cn}}
Coker began work on Smashwords in 2005 and officially launched the website in May 2008. Within the first seven months of launching, the website published 140 books.<ref name="Forbes">[https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2012/0625/entrepreneurs-mark-coker-smashwords-book-value.html "Book Value"] ''Forbes''</ref> Due to initially low profits, the firm switched to a distribution model that offered retailers a "30% commission in exchange for digital shelf space".<ref name="Forbes" /> Smashwords achieved a profit in 2010 and has distributed some of its books via [[Apple Inc.|Apple]], [[Barnes & Noble]], [[Kobo Inc.|Kobo]], [[Sony]],<ref name="Forbes" /> and [[Kindle Direct Publishing|KDP]], [[Amazon.com|Amazon]].com's e-book publishing website.

⚫
In 2012, Smashwords announced that it would partner with [[3m#Products|3M Cloud Library]], which would allow for the option for their authors' books to be available in libraries,<ref>[http://goodereader.com/blog/electronic-readers/3mstom-mercer-discusses-smashwords-partnership-at-bea/ "3M's Tom Mercer Discusses Smashwords Partnership at BEA"] Good E-reader</ref> and that it had reached about 127,000 titles by 44,000 authors.<ref>[http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/smashwords-counts-127k-titles-projects-12m-in-revenue-this-year_b52713 "Smashwords Counts 127K Titles & Projects $12M in Revenue This Year"] GalleyCat</ref> The company reported that at the end of 2014 unique titles had grown to 336,000 by more than 101,000 authors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.smashwords.com/2014/12/smashwords-year-in-review-2014-and.html|title=Smashwords Year in Review 2014 and Plans for 2015 |author= Mark Coker|publisher=|date=2014-12-31|accessdate=2015-04-17}}</ref>

==Quality control==
In a special to the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'', titled "Smashwords gets self-published e-books to market" (May 9, 2011), Ilana DeBare observes:<ref>{{cite news|author=DeBare, Ilana| work=San Francisco Chronicle| title=Smashwords gets self-published e-books to market| date=May 9, 2011|url=http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Smashwords-gets-self-published-e-books-to-market-2372063.php}}</ref>


⚫
In 2012, Smashwords announced that it would partner with [[3M]] Cloud Library, which would allow for the option for their authors' books to be available in libraries,<ref>[http://goodereader.com/blog/electronic-readers/3mstom-mercer-discusses-smashwords-partnership-at-bea/ "3M's Tom Mercer Discusses Smashwords Partnership at BEA"] Good E-reader</ref> and that it had reached about 127,000 titles by 44,000 authors.<ref>[http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/smashwords-counts-127k-titles-projects-12m-in-revenue-this-year_b52713 "Smashwords Counts 127K Titles & Projects $12M in Revenue This Year"] GalleyCat</ref>
<blockquote>"Mark was very forward-thinking, and the way he set the company up appeals to independent publishers," said Joel Friedlander, a book designer with Marin Bookworks in San Rafael and an expert in self-publishing. "There's no cost, no frills, it's a quick way to get your e-book into print, and you can do it in a day."


Coker, a former Silicon Valley publicist, started Smashwords in 2008 with the lofty goal of using technology to democratize publishing—allowing writers to appeal directly to readers without having to deal with gatekeepers such as agents and editors.
Coker, a former Silicon Valley publicist, started Smashwords in 2008 with the claimed goal of using technology to democratize publishing—allowing writers to appeal directly to readers without having to deal with gatekeepers such as agents and editors. In keeping with this mission, Smashwords applies no editorial screening. The only e-books the firm rejects are ones that contain plagiarism, illegal content or incitement to racism, homophobia or violence.


Smashwords does not use [[digital rights management]].{{cn|date=November 2018}}
In keeping with this mission, Smashwords applies no editorial screening. The only e-books Coker refuses to distribute are ones that contain plagiarism, illegal content or incitement to racism, homophobia or violence.</blockquote>


==References==
==References==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
*{{official website|https://www.smashwords.com/}}
*{{official website}}


{{Ebooks}}
{{Ebooks}}
{{E-book digital distribution platforms}}
{{E-book digital distribution platforms}}
{{Self-publishing}}


[[Category:E-book suppliers]]
[[Category:Ebook suppliers]]
[[Category:Self-publishing companies]]
[[Category:Companies based in Silicon Valley]]
[[Category:Companies based in Santa Clara County, California]]
[[Category:Los Gatos, California]]
[[Category:2008 establishments in California]]
[[Category:American companies established in 2008]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2008]]
[[Category:2022 mergers and acquisitions]]

Latest revision as of 06:14, 19 April 2024

Smashwords
Founded2008
FounderMark Coker
Country of originUnited States
Headquarters locationLos Gatos, California
DistributionWorldwide
Official websitewww.smashwords.com

Smashwords, Inc., based in Los Gatos, California, is a platform for self-publishing e-books. The company, founded by Mark Coker, began public operation in 2008[1] and was acquired by Draft2Digital, LLC in [2]2022.[3]

Authors and independent publishers upload their manuscripts as electronic files to the service, which converts them into multiple e-book formats for various devices. Once published, the books are made available for sale online at a price set by the author or independent publisher.

History

[edit]

Coker began work on Smashwords in 2005 and officially launched the website in May 2008. Within the first seven months of launching, the website published 140 books.[4] Due to initially low profits, the firm switched to a distribution model that offered retailers a "30% commission in exchange for digital shelf space".[4] Smashwords achieved a profit in 2010 and has distributed some of its books via Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Sony,[4] and KDP, Amazon.com's e-book publishing website.

In 2012, Smashwords announced that it would partner with 3M Cloud Library, which would allow for the option for their authors' books to be available in libraries,[5] and that it had reached about 127,000 titles by 44,000 authors.[6]

Coker, a former Silicon Valley publicist, started Smashwords in 2008 with the claimed goal of using technology to democratize publishing—allowing writers to appeal directly to readers without having to deal with gatekeepers such as agents and editors. In keeping with this mission, Smashwords applies no editorial screening. The only e-books the firm rejects are ones that contain plagiarism, illegal content or incitement to racism, homophobia or violence.

Smashwords does not use digital rights management.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ DeBare, Ilana (2011-05-12). "Smashwords gets e-books to market". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2011-12-29.
  2. ^ Anderson, Porter (2022-02-09). "A Merger in Self-Publishing: Draft2Digital's Acquisition of Smashwords". Publishing Perspectives. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  3. ^ "Draft2Digital to Acquire Smashwords, Creating Self-Publishing Juggernaut". Yahoo Finance. 2022-02-08. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  4. ^ a b c "Book Value" Forbes
  5. ^ "3M's Tom Mercer Discusses Smashwords Partnership at BEA" Good E-reader
  6. ^ "Smashwords Counts 127K Titles & Projects $12M in Revenue This Year" GalleyCat
[edit]
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